Trump says ‘it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president’ who can ‘make a deal’ with Russia
US president accuses Volodymyr Zelenskyy of repeatedly missing opportunities to end war, criticizes Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
- Kyiv's foreign minister says Zelenskyy has Ukrainian people's support, 'they have the right to decide,' adds ‘statements from abroad only confirm that he is doing his job well’
US President Donald Trump on Saturday called for Ukraine to “get a new president,” accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of repeatedly failing to reach a deal to end the war with Russia.
“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal, because he could have made many deals that, for some reason, he never does,” Trump said, criticizing the Ukrainian leader.
“I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president,” he added.
Trump argued that the Russia-Ukraine war could have been avoided.
“If I were president, you wouldn't have ever had that war. That war would have never started,” he said.
The US president also accused Zelenskyy of missing multiple opportunities to end the conflict.
“Zelenskyy could have settled this war many times, many, many times, and he chooses not to,” Trump said, describing the situation as “very difficult.”
Trump also criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, arguing that attacks on refineries could worsen global fuel shortages and affect American farmers and ranchers.
“We told them, do whatever you want, but don't hit the diesel fuel because there's a big problem. Big shortage,” he said.
Moscow and Kyiv have intensified strikes in recent months, targeting each other's logistics centers, ports and energy infrastructure.
Both countries deny deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, maintaining that their strikes are directed at military targets or facilities linked to military activities.
Soon after Trump's remarks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on US social media platform X that Zelenskyy is leading Ukraine in a time of war "for independence, freedom, and dignity."
"He (Zelenskyy) has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide. Statements from abroad only confirm that he is doing his job well. He deserves support," Sybiha added.